China and the Philippines are accusing each other of the collision in the waters of the South China Sea.
REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, BEIJING — China and the Philippines have accused each other of collisions in disputed waters in the South China Sea. Chinese ships blocked Philippine ships supplying troops on Sunday (22/10/2023).
The collision occurred during a routine supply mission of a ship contracted to the Philippine armed forces. In the latest incident, China’s coast guard said there had been a minor collision between one of its vessels and a Philippine vessel. Beijing claims its coast guard legally blocked the vessel from transporting illegal construction materials to a Philippine warship.
China’s coast guard said the Philippine vessel had ignored repeated warnings, bypassed the bow of the Chinese vessel and deliberately caused trouble, leading to the collision. “The Philippines’ behavior seriously violates international regulations on avoiding collisions at sea and threatens the safety of navigation of our vessels,” the coast guard said.
Manila responded by condemning in the strongest terms the dangerous blocking maneuvers against Chinese vessels. “China’s dangerous, irresponsible and illegal actions constitute a violation of Philippine sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction,” Manila’s Task Force for the West Philippine Sea said in a statement.
The United States (US) expressed its support for the Philippines and condemned China’s interference with the Philippines’ official supply mission. “We stand with our #FriendsPartnersAllies in protecting Philippine sovereignty and supporting #FreeAndOpenIndoPacific,” US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson posted on X’s social media.
The two countries have been involved in numerous disputes in the South China Sea in recent months, especially at the disputed Second Thomas Shoal, part of the Spratly Islands. The Philippines has sent supplies to troops stationed on World War II-era transport ships used as outposts in the shallow waters. This activity led the Chinese coast guard to repeatedly deploy ships to block these supply missions.
Manila’s relations with Beijing deteriorated under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. who has strengthened military engagement with Washington since taking office last year. The Pentagon said in May it would protect the Philippines if its coast guard was attacked in the South China Sea.
Beijing claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea, including parts of the exclusive economic zones of the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei and Indonesia. The Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2016 said Beijing’s claims had no legal basis.
Last week, the Philippine military demanded that China stop its dangerous and offensive actions after a Chinese navy ship shadowed and attempted to obstruct a Philippine navy ship on a supply mission. Meanwhile, Beijing has warned Manila against further provocations because these actions are considered to violate its territorial sovereignty.
Source : Republika
